Patentable/Patents/US-8462296
US-8462296

Projection-type display apparatus

PublishedJune 11, 2013
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

A projection-type display apparatus, being suitable to be applied as a light source of a solid-state light source, in the place of a conventional lamp, comprises: a light source unit, which is configured to emit a white-color light therefrom; a light separation optic system, which is configured to separate the white color light from the light source unit into three primary color lights, R (red-color), G (green-color) and B (blue-color); R, G and B light modulating portions, each of which modulates each of R, G and B polarized lights separated, depending on a video signal, respectively; a light composing unit, which is configured to compose optical images, which are formed by the R, G and B light modulating portions; and a projecting portion, which is configure to project the optical image composed, enlargedly, wherein the light source unit emits a white color light emitting from a nearly point-like light source, including an excitation light from a solid-state light emitting element therein.

Patent Claims
20 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source unit, configured to emit an excitation light onto a nearly point-like area of a reflecting surface including a light emitting substance, the reflecting surface configured to reflect the excitation light received from the light source unit and also to emit an emission light from the light emitting substance, such that a white color light originates from the nearly point-like light source on the reflecting surface; a light separation optic system, configured to receive the white color light that originates from the nearly point-like light source on the reflecting surface, and to separate the white color light into three primary color lights: red-color (R), green-color (G), and blue-color (B), and to emit the three primary color lights; R, G and B light modulating portions, each of which is configured to modulate a respective one of R, G and B polarized separated lights, depending on a video signal; a light composing unit, configured to compose optical images formed by the R, G and B light modulating portions; and a projecting portion, configured to project an enlarged version of the optical images.

Plain English Translation

A projection display apparatus projects enlarged optical images. It uses a light source that shines excitation light onto a small point on a reflecting surface containing a light-emitting substance (e.g., a phosphor). This surface reflects the excitation light and emits a white light from the point. A light separation system splits this white light into red, green, and blue light components. Red, green, and blue light modulators (e.g., liquid crystal panels or DMDs) then individually adjust the intensity of each color according to a video signal. Finally, a light composing unit combines the modulated red, green, and blue light to form the optical image.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 1 , wherein the white color light originating from the nearly point-like light source on the reflecting surface includes: the excitation light, and the emission light from the light emitting substance; and wherein the emission light comprises light emitted from a fluorescent substance excited by the excitation light.

Plain English Translation

The projection display from the previous description generates its white light using both the excitation light and the light emitted from a fluorescent substance. Specifically, the excitation light stimulates the fluorescent substance on the reflecting surface, causing it to emit light. The combined excitation and emission lights create the white light.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 2 , wherein the fluorescent substance is configured to emit an emission light with a color relationship that is complementary to the excitation light, at least in terms of wavelength region.

Plain English Translation

In the projection display described previously, the fluorescent substance emits light with a color that is complementary to the excitation light, meaning that the colors are opposites on the color spectrum. This ensures that combining the excitation light and the emitted light produces a balanced white light. For example, if the excitation light is blue, the fluorescent substance emits yellow light.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 3 , wherein the excitation light comprises B-color light, and the emission light from the fluorescent substance comprises Y-color light.

Plain English Translation

In the projection display described previously, the excitation light is blue (B), and the fluorescent substance emits yellow (Y) light. Combining the blue excitation light with the yellow emission light results in white light.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 4 , wherein the white color light originating from the reflecting surface comprises a result of combining the B-color light emitted from a semiconductor laser element and the Y-color light emitted from the fluorescent substance.

Plain English Translation

In the projection display described previously, the white light from the reflecting surface is a combination of blue light emitted by a semiconductor laser and yellow light emitted by the fluorescent substance. This mixed light source provides the necessary white light for the projection system.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 5 , further comprising: a light flux capturing unit that includes the reflection surface.

Plain English Translation

The projection display from the previous description also includes a light flux capturing unit. This unit, which includes the reflecting surface, collects and focuses the light generated at the point source to improve light efficiency in the projection system. This ensures that as much of the generated light as possible is directed towards the light separation optics.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 1 , wherein the white color light emitted from the light source unit comprises parallel or nearly parallel light rays.

Plain English Translation

In the projection display described previously, the white light emitted from the light source is emitted as a parallel or nearly parallel beam. This collimated light helps to improve the efficiency and quality of the image projected by reducing light dispersion and ensuring a sharper focus.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 1 , wherein the R, G and B light modulating portions include transmission-type liquid crystal panels.

Plain English Translation

In the projection display previously described, the red, green, and blue light modulators are transmission-type liquid crystal panels. These panels allow light to pass through them, and they modulate the intensity of each color by controlling the polarization of the light.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 1 , wherein the R, G and B light modulating portions include reflection-type liquid crystal panels.

Plain English Translation

In the projection display previously described, the red, green, and blue light modulators are reflection-type liquid crystal panels. These panels reflect the light and modulate the intensity of each color by controlling the polarization of the light.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 1 , wherein the R, G and B light modulating portions include digital mirror devices (DMD), each made by aligning plural numbers of micro-mirrors.

Plain English Translation

In the projection display described previously, the red, green, and blue light modulators are Digital Mirror Devices (DMDs). Each DMD consists of many tiny mirrors that can be individually controlled to reflect light either towards or away from the projection lens, thereby modulating the intensity of each color.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source means, for emitting an excitation light onto a nearly point-like area of a reflecting surface means including a light emitting substance, the reflecting surface means being for reflecting the excitation light received from the light source means and also for emitting an emission light from the light emitting substance, such that a white color light originates from the nearly point-like light source on the reflecting surface; a light separation optic means, for receiving the white color light that originates from the nearly point-like light source on the reflecting surface, and for separating the white color light into three primary color lights: red-color (R), green-color (G), and blue-color (B), and for emitting the three primary color lights; R, G and B light modulating means, each of which is for modulating a respective one of R, G and B polarized separated lights, depending on a video signal; a light composing means, for composing optical images formed by the R, G and B light modulating means; and a projecting means, for projecting an enlarged version of the optical images.

Plain English Translation

A projection display apparatus projects enlarged optical images. It uses a light source that shines excitation light onto a small point on a reflecting surface containing a light-emitting substance (e.g., a phosphor). This surface reflects the excitation light and emits a white light from the point. A light separation system splits this white light into red, green, and blue light components. Red, green, and blue light modulators (e.g., liquid crystal panels or DMDs) then individually adjust the intensity of each color according to a video signal. Finally, a light composing unit combines the modulated red, green, and blue light to form the optical image.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 11 , wherein the white color light originating from the nearly point-like light source on the reflecting surface includes: the excitation light, and the emission light from the light emitting substance; and wherein the emission light comprises light emitted from a fluorescent substance excited by the excitation light.

Plain English Translation

The projection display from the previous description generates its white light using both the excitation light and the light emitted from a fluorescent substance. Specifically, the excitation light stimulates the fluorescent substance on the reflecting surface, causing it to emit light. The combined excitation and emission lights create the white light.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 12 , wherein the fluorescent substance emits an emission light with a color relationship that is complementary to the excitation light, at least in terms of wavelength region.

Plain English Translation

In the projection display described previously, the fluorescent substance emits light with a color that is complementary to the excitation light, meaning that the colors are opposites on the color spectrum. This ensures that combining the excitation light and the emitted light produces a balanced white light. For example, if the excitation light is blue, the fluorescent substance emits yellow light.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 13 , wherein the excitation light comprises B-color light, and the emission light from the fluorescent substance comprises Y-color light.

Plain English Translation

In the projection display described previously, the excitation light is blue (B), and the fluorescent substance emits yellow (Y) light. Combining the blue excitation light with the yellow emission light results in white light.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 14 , wherein the white color light originating from the reflecting surface means comprises the result of combining the B-color light emitted from a semiconductor laser element and the Y-color light emitted from the fluorescent substance.

Plain English Translation

In the projection display described previously, the white light from the reflecting surface is a combination of blue light emitted by a semiconductor laser and yellow light emitted by the fluorescent substance. This mixed light source provides the necessary white light for the projection system.

Claim 16

Original Legal Text

16. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 15 , further comprising: a light flux capturing means that includes the reflection surface means.

Plain English Translation

The projection display from the previous description also includes a light flux capturing unit. This unit, which includes the reflecting surface, collects and focuses the light generated at the point source to improve light efficiency in the projection system. This ensures that as much of the generated light as possible is directed towards the light separation optics.

Claim 17

Original Legal Text

17. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 11 , wherein the white color light emitted from the light source means comprises parallel or nearly parallel light rays.

Plain English Translation

In the projection display described previously, the white light emitted from the light source is emitted as a parallel or nearly parallel beam. This collimated light helps to improve the efficiency and quality of the image projected by reducing light dispersion and ensuring a sharper focus.

Claim 18

Original Legal Text

18. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 11 , wherein the R, G and B light modulating means include transmission-type liquid crystal panels.

Plain English Translation

In the projection display previously described, the red, green, and blue light modulators are transmission-type liquid crystal panels. These panels allow light to pass through them, and they modulate the intensity of each color by controlling the polarization of the light.

Claim 19

Original Legal Text

19. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 11 , wherein the R, G and B light modulating means include reflection-type liquid crystal panels.

Plain English Translation

In the projection display previously described, the red, green, and blue light modulators are reflection-type liquid crystal panels. These panels reflect the light and modulate the intensity of each color by controlling the polarization of the light.

Claim 20

Original Legal Text

20. The projection-type display apparatus, as described in the claim 11 , wherein the R, G and B light modulating means include digital mirror devices (DMD), each made by aligning plural numbers of micro-mirrors.

Plain English Translation

In the projection display described previously, the red, green, and blue light modulators are Digital Mirror Devices (DMDs). Each DMD consists of many tiny mirrors that can be individually controlled to reflect light either towards or away from the projection lens, thereby modulating the intensity of each color.

Classification Codes (CPC)

Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.

Patent Metadata

Filing Date

October 6, 2010

Publication Date

June 11, 2013

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